This is cool as long as they don't obsess on the in-car shots like Fox does. And I guess it is inevitable they'd have to have their own version of the Hollywood montrosity. As I said, this isn't the ESPN we all remember...

From Jayski:

"NASCAR fans are welcoming back an old friend this year with ESPN’s return to coverage of the sport, but the old friend is going to have a sophisticated new look when live NASCAR coverage resumes next month. ESPN and ESPN on ABC’s coverage of the Nextel Cup Series and Busch Series will be the most technologically advanced programming in the history of televised motorsports, according to Jed Drake, senior vice president and executive producer for ESPN. "ESPN's presentation of NASCAR will be state of the art at every level of production,” said Drake. ”We have built a production plan that will provide a truly exceptional presentation to our viewers."All NASCAR on ESPN races and associated programming will be totally produced in High Definition, a first for televised motorsports. Of the approximately 60 to 75 cameras that will be used by ESPN in televising races, more than used in any other sport, all will be HD. ESPN, a pioneer in the development of in-car cameras during its 20 seasons of NASCAR coverage from 1981-2000, has been preparing for use of HD in-car cameras in advance of the Busch Series season-opening Orbitz 300 from Daytona on ESPN2 February 17. The camera systems had to be re-engineered for HD, as did the camera power and transmission systems within the race cars, all while maintaining a delicate balance to not add weight to the cars and possibly affect their performance. ESPN’s NASCAR coverage will also include HD cameras providing other interesting points of view, including grass cam, wall cam, crew cams, pit overhead cams, blimps and multiple robotic cameras at various points around the tracks. In addition to 100% use of HD cameras, ESPN will also produce NASCAR’s top two series with Sportvision technology, which Rich Feinberg, senior coordinating producer, said no TV network has ever used in Busch Series coverage. Sportvision utilizes satellite technology to create on-screen “pointers” to designate specific cars within a pack, helping viewers distinguish their favorite driver’s car, lead-lap cars and produces telemetry from the race cars to show speeds, braking and other compelling information to viewers. All cars in the races will carry Sportvision transmitters.ESPN’S NASCAR FUN FACTS:6 – Tractor-trailer rigs used each event (including pit studio, in-car camera trailer, custom office trailer)10 – Number of months ESPN’s NASCAR fleet will be on the road (February-November)26 – Tracks ESPN’s mobile fleet will visit in 200738 – NASCAR events ESPN’s mobile fleet will attend in 200752 – NASCAR races to be televised live by ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN on ABC in 2007 (full 35-race Busch Series season, final 17 Nextel Cup events)60-75 – HD Cameras used by ESPN to televise a NASCAR race (including in-car cameras)200 – Credentialed ESPN personnel working on NASCAR each week78,000 – Weight in pounds of ESPN traveling studio for NASCAR Countdown showsESPN commissioned the creation of four of what Feinberg said are “the most sophisticated mobile production units ever built in the history of TV motorsports, designed just for our NASCAR coverage.” Among the innovations within the ESPN-branded units is a radio room in which radio transmissions of all 43 teams in NASCAR races will be recorded during races, allowing producers to be able to lift specific transmissions of any driver or team at any time. “I call it the ultimate TiVo,” said Feinberg.For its NASCAR Countdown studio shows that will precede all NASCAR race telecasts, ESPN will originate from the most technologically-advanced traveling studio ever used in sports television. The studio, which weighs nearly 78,000 pounds and will travel to 26 NASCAR tracks this season, will allow ESPN to bring the look and feel of its Bristol, Conn.,-based studio shows such as SportsCenter and Sunday NFL Countdown to the tracks.The mobile pit studio will be outfitted with state-of-the-art LED lighting, three robotic HD cameras and a dramatic, contoured, video display fronting the anchor desk. Situated near the pits at every track, the studio will be elevated 14 feet while in use and 30 foot glass windows will give viewers a look at the cars, grandstands and pageantry prior to the race start. “We want to show the scope and size of the sport,” Feinberg said. Feinberg also said ESPN will have an exciting new animation, graphic and musical package featuring Aerosmith.(ESPN PR)(1-24-2007)"

I'm sure ESPN will fall into the abyss on the bells and whistles that Fox started in 2001.

On Saturday, I wanted to watch an old ESPN race with Benny commentating and the first tape I found was the fall Martinsville race in 2000 (ESPN's last season doing NASCAR). While watching that race, I couldn't help but notice that the ESPN "3-at a time" graphic for the field rundown was SO nice! Not obtrusive, yet moved often enough you could see the entire field rundown. All I could think of was how I KNOW they will not use this, but fall into the stupid ticker that Fox also started. With the 3-at a time graphic, you could actually ignore it and focus on the racing (unlike the stupid ticker).